HomeMy WebLinkAbout01-13-2025 Health & Public Safety Committee MinutesOFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK
BIANCA L. TIRADO, CITY CLERK
HEALTH & PUBLIC SAFETY JANUARY 13, 2025 4:15 P.M.
Committee Members Present: Rachel Tomas Morgan, Troy Warner, Sheila
Niezgodski, Sharon McBride*
Committee Members Absent: None
Other Council Present:
Sherry Bolden -Simpson, Karen White,
Ophelia Gooden-Rodgers, Dr. Oliver Davis,
Canneth Lee*
Others Present: Bianca L. Tirado, Elivet Quijada-Navarro,
Matthew Neal, Bob Palmer
Presenters: Adam Taylor
Agenda:
Bill No. 74-24 — Ordinance Establishing a
Merit Board System Governing the South
Bend Fire Department (Substitute)
Members marked with an asterisk (*) are in virtual attendance.
Please note the attached link for the meeting recording:
http://does.southbendin.gov/WebLink/browse.aspx?dbid=0& mediaid=389810
Committee Chair Rachel Tomas Morgan called to order the Health and Public Safety Committee
meeting at 4:15 p.m.
Bill No. 74-24 — Ordinance Establishing a Merit Board System Governing the South Bend
Fire Department (Substitute)
Committee Member Sheila Niezgodski moved to accept Substitute Bill No. 74-24, which was
seconded by Committee Chair Tomas Morgan and carried by a vote of three (3) ayes with one (1)
committee member absent.
Committee Chair Rachel Tomas Morgan - Aye
Committee Vice Chair Troy Warner — Absent
Committee Member Sheila Niezgodski - Aye
Committee Member Sharon McBride - Aye
INTEGRITY 1 SERVICE I ACCESSIBILITY
Elivet Quijada-Navarro
CHIEF OF STAFF / CHIEF DEPUTY QTY CLERK
Matthew Neal
DEPUTY QTY CLERK / DIRECTOR OF POLICY
EXCELLENCE I ACCOUNTABILITY I INNOVATION I INCLUSION I EMPOWERMENT
455 County -City Building 1227 W. Jefferson Blvd. I South Bend, Indiana 46601 p. 574.235.9221 I f. 574.235.9173 I www.southbendin.gov
CITY OF SOUTII BENI) I OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERIC
Committee Chair Tomas Morgan requested that the petitioner(s) state their name and address and
share key points before the committee.
Adam Taylor, Assistant City Attorney, with offices located on the 12th floor of the County -City
Building, presented Substitute Bill No. 74-24. Substitute Bill No. 74-24 adopts the State model
merit system for the South Bend Fire Department (SBFD), which has wide support among the
Local 362. The State model requires political divergence between the two (2) mayoral board
appointments and the two (2) fire department board appointments. Suspensions longer than five
(5) days, demotions, and dismissals would be heard by the State model board. Board appointments
must be made no later than March 1, 2025.
Committee Chair Tomas Morgan asked committee members for comments, and nobody spoke.
Committee Chair Tomas Morgan asked councilmembers for comments.
Councilmember Dr. Oliver Davis asked why Substitute Bill No. 74-24 was not introduced earlier.
Adam Taylor stated that due to the firefighters' strong support of the State model, the decision to
move forward with the State model was viewed as an inevitability.
Councilmember Dr. Oliver Davis stated the he believes the decision to not include the Council in
the discussions regarding the fire merit board showcases a lack of respect for the Council.
Committee Chair Tomas Morgan held the public hearing, and nobody spoke.
Committee Member Niezgodski moved to send Bill No. 74-24 to the Committee of the Whole
with a favorable recommendation, which was seconded by Committee Member Sharon McBride
and carried by a vote of four (4) ayes.
Committee Chair Rachel Tomas Morgan - Aye
Committee Vice Chair Troy Warner — Aye
Committee Member Sheila Niezgodski - Aye
Committee Member Sharon McBride - Aye
With no further business, Committee Chair Rachel Tomas Morgan adjourned the Health and
Public Safety Committee meeting at 4:35 p.m.
Respectfully Submitted,
(2tvfa T
T 1411,,,,",
Rachel Tomas Morgan, Committee Chair
NOTICE FOR HEARING AND SIGHT IMPAIRED PERSONS
Auxiliary Aid or Other Services may be Available upon Request at No Charge.
Please give Reasonable Advance Request when Possible
EXCELLENCE ACCOUNTABILITY INNOVATION INCLUSION j EMPOWERMENT
455 County -City Building 1227 W. Jefferson Blvd. I South Bend, Indiana 46601 I p. 574.235.9221 f. 574.235.9173 I www.southbendin.gov